What do you do first upon waking?
Lately I’ve been trying to wake up at least 30 minutes before my kids get up and I’ve been super diligent about meditating first thing in the morning. I’ve been able to get into a really consistent meditation routine with this new device I bought called BrainTap. It comes with a headset and goggles that have different lights, sounds, and vibrations that come through the headset for guided meditations. I’ve found that guided meditations work best for me because when I’m meditating in silence it’s more difficult for me to focus. The guided meditations make it much easier for me to stay present. There are a variety of different meditations to choose from including ones for sleep, creativity, and stress reduction that range from 10-30 minutes so there’s something for everyone. I’m seriously in love with it and it’s an amazing way to take time for myself before everyone wakes up and the craziness begins.
What is your morning skincare routine?
My morning skincare routine is kind of a two-part routine. There’s a really simple routine I do before I exercise and a more extensive one I do after. For my pre-workout skincare routine I always start by exfoliating with the Regenerating Cleanser. I love to get rid of all the dead skin cells that have accumulated overnight for decongested, healthy, and glowing skin. The scent of this cleanser is something I look forward to every morning. The grapefruit and bergamot are so energizing and help me wake up before I workout. I follow with a little bit of Retinoic Nutrient Face Oil and then I head to my gym to exercise while the kids get ready for school. After I’m done with my workout I take the kids to school and when I return I start my longer morning routine that involves showering, changing, and a more detailed skincare routine. For this second routine, I start with the Hydrating Floral Essence to give my skin a boost of moisture and help my two most important anti-aging products, serum and eye cream, penetrate more deeply. I use the Rejuvenating Serum, which has everything you need for amazing skin in one product. It firms, moisturizes, and relaxes wrinkles all at once in one single step. I apply this serum all over my face, neck, and chest and use any extra product on my hands and forearms. I basically put it in as many places as possible for healthy skin all over. I follow with a really thick layer of the Restorative Eye Cream and apply it all around my eye area: upper lid, lower lid, upper temples and between my eyebrows. I also like to use another pump around my lips because this skin is very similar to the skin around your eyes. Both areas are super thin and fragile so it’s important to take this extra step to prevent any damage in these sensitive spots. After this is my moisturizing step and in the morning I love to use our reparative moisturizer. It’s almost like a liquid cream; it’s very silky and lightweight but still keeps my skin moisturized without being super dewy, so it’s perfect for daytime. I like to finish my morning skincare routine with a little bit of blush to bring some life into my face, so I’ll put a bit of our cream blush in the shade Naughty on my cheeks, eyelids, and lips to wake up my complexion.
What do you eat and drink in the morning, and do you take any supplements?
I like to drink at least five to eight litres of water daily and I drink the first one while I’m exercising in the morning. I typically don’t have breakfast until around 11:00 because I practice intermittent fasting so I only have water until then. I like my breakfasts to be really simple and small because l have lunch at 1:30 which is my largest meal of the day so I don’t want to be too full. My breakfasts range from hard-boiled eggs with avocado to oatmeal with fresh fruit. I like to honor my cravings and eat what sounds good to me at the time. During breakfast I also start drinking agua frescas and my current favorite is pineapple. I take pineapple and boil it and then drink that water with a bit of lemon. It’s delicious and I have about two litres of it daily. For my supplements, I have a pretty extensive list, but I always say supplements do not replace good nutrition! They are an amazing way to take an already healthy lifestyle further and shouldn’t be used in place of proper diet and exercise. I like to prioritize taking supplements that help with stress, longevity, and overall health so I take a variety of them everyday to make sure I’m giving my body what it needs. Some of my favorite supplements include:
Celltrient Cellular Protect which supports glutathione production to help protect your cells and is the most potent antioxidant in the world
Pure Encapsulations Magnesium Citrate Dietary Supplement to support cardiometabolic, neurocognitive and musculoskeletal health
Biomega 1000 for improved brain function
HTB Rejuvenation which helps support rejuvenation of the immune response and is great for longevity
Probiotics for my gut health
Turmeric Supreme for inflammation
Pure Synergy SuperPure Astaxanthin
Life Extension Optimized Saffron that supports my nervous system and anxiety.
Do you have a morning exercise routine/if so what is it?
Exercise has always been a large part of my life since I was a little girl. I’ve tried many different forms of exercise throughout my life and I recently went back to lifting weights because I’ve found it gives me the best workout in a small amount of time. As you get older it’s important to keep your strength up so I’ve really prioritized being strong over being flexible or anything else. I do all weighted exercises and I feel it’s how I’ve gotten in shape the fastest. I like to do 45 minutes of weightlifting a day and sometimes if I’m not up for the full 45 minutes at once, I’ll split it up throughout the day and do 30 minutes in the morning and the last 15 minutes before lunch or after work. I’m very grateful to have a gym in my home that makes working out quick and convenient.
What are your absolute top beauty and health tips for your clients?
I think that health and beauty tips are extremely interlinked. Whatever you do for your health is going to have benefits for your skin and enhance your natural beauty. I think we are so used to separating habits between things we do for beauty and things we do for health but in reality, everything you do for your health will impact you from the inside out. A healthy body is a beautiful body. When people ask me for health and beauty tips I always refer to it as a pizza. There are many different slices that come together to make up your health and wellness routine. Of course topical skincare treatments are a large piece of the pie and it’s important to be consistent with them. If you frequently switch up your products you won’t see real results because they haven’t had enough time to do their magic and it will be impossible to know if they actually work for you. Another slice of our beauty pizza is getting enough sleep. It’s so important to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night to allow your body to recharge. Exercise is another important piece. It doesn’t have to be lifting weights, it can be anything from walking to yoga to pilates. Whatever you enjoy that gets your body moving, blood flowing and helps to relieve stress is perfect. The final pieces are reserved for a healthy diet which involves drinking enough water and making sure you’re eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Food is medicine, it’s how we get the majority of our nutrients and vitamins so it’s important to pay attention to what you are eating and avoid processed foods as much as possible. I know it sounds cliché but I always tell people to eat the rainbow because it really helps incorporate a lot of fruits and vegetables in your diet.
What are your favourite remedies if you wake up feeling under the weather/hungover/seasons changing?
When I’m not feeling my best I like to use a combination of homeopathy and essential oils to help my body fight off whatever sickness it's battling. I love the Boiron ColdCalm meltaway tablets and I take them right when I start to feel under the weather. I also love the doTERRA On Guard Protective Blend Softgels and Essential Oil Blend. I take the pills and mix the essential oil with a chest rub and put it all over my chest and add a few drops of the oil on my feet. I also like to up my vitamin C intake when I’m not feeling well to give my body the extra boost it needs to get better.
What are your 3 hero treatments at your practice and top 3 hero products from MZ Skin?
My three hero products are definitely the Regenerating Cleanser, the Rejuvenating Serum, and Creme Riche. These are three products that I use every single day and could never live without. Our Regenerating Cleanser is the ultimate exfoliating treatment to decongest skin for a healthy-looking glow. It gets rid of any dead skin cells that have accumulated on your face without ever stripping your skin, and it smells amazing. The Rejuvenating Serum is a powerhouse product that gives you everything you need for intense anti-aging benefits. It minimizes the appearance of wrinkles and tightens and brightens the look of skin while providing plumping hydration for an all-over youthful and healthy-looking complexion. My last hero product is Creme Riche, our richest, most decadent cream that targets visible signs of aging with natural antioxidants, essential fatty acids and vitamin F for instantly soft and supple skin.
Do you look at your phone first thing in the morning?
I used to be guilty of looking at my phone first thing in the morning but it’s a habit I’ve been breaking through my morning meditations. I’ll look at my phone while I’m exercising in between sets just to answer any urgent questions people have before I can head into the office. I used to get into work mode as soon as I woke up, but I’ve found it’s much better to take time for myself before I tackle any tasks.
Where is your favourite place in the world to wake up?
My favorite place in the world to wake up is my farm in Vermont, especially in the summer. It’s so wonderful waking up to the sound of the roosters and birds chirping. It also gets bright very early which helps me wake up easier. I love being able to look out the window and see the endless green all around me, it puts me in an amazing mood. The farm is definitely my happy place.
What are your top tips for great sleep?
I try to be in bed by 10:00 pm because that is when your body begins preparing for sleep. We all have this internal clock called circadian rhythm which tells your body when to sleep and wake, so listening to this clock is imperative for good sleep. You don’t need to be asleep by 10:00, but I tell everyone to at least try to be in bed by then. I also sleep in a really dark room with my phone nowhere near me so I’m not tempted to check it and can just focus on resting.
